C+

Above Average

Score: 58/100

Overall (traditional)

Outcome Rating

39/100 · earnings-weighted

University of Northern Colorado

4-Year Public

📍 Greeley, Colorado 80639

🌐 https://www.unco.edu/

University of Northern Colorado — acceptance rate 86%, tuition $8,784 in-state, $23,196 out-of-state

University of Northern Colorado campus, Greeley, CO. Photo: Peter Romero, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Outcomes

68/100

Affordability

51/100

Resources

C+

57/100

Experience

B+

80/100

Prestige

36/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

9,067

Total Enrollment

51%

Graduation Rate

74%

Retention Rate

14.0:1

Student-Faculty Ratio

86%

Acceptance Rate

$19,115

Avg Net Price

🏠 Housing Market Near University of Northern Colorado ▼

3% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (80639) has no residential market, so these figures average 2 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (80631, 80620).

Avg Home Value

$381,666

Avg Monthly Rent

$1,546

1-Year Change

+0.4%

See full rental market data for 80631 →

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of Northern Colorado, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$52,231

Median earnings 10 yrs after entry

$43,756

Median earnings 6 yrs after entry

$20,470

Median debt at graduation

51.2%

Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)

1,082

Average SAT

Median ACT

26.2%

Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 39% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 25th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CO wage index 1.14). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of Northern Colorado

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major	1 yr after	4 yrs after	vs. national	Rank (pay)	Rank (wage-adj.)	Median debt
Computer Engineering	$56,557	$95,775	-12%	#148 of 189	#164	—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$74,308	$83,712	-6%	#581 of 966	#886	$18,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$50,739	$74,278	+9%	#255 of 1176	#425	$19,500
Physics	$34,373	$73,186	-5%	#79 of 107	#81	$23,810
Political Science and Government	$37,458	$65,783	+4%	#192 of 565	#264	$20,000
Chemistry	$45,406	$65,414	+0%	#114 of 209	#157	$26,000
Economics	$45,257	$65,025	-21%	#323 of 368	#333	$19,967
Geography and Cartography	$36,996	$62,369	+8%	#43 of 117	#65	—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$46,954	$57,989	-4%	#88 of 138	#110	$24,121
Journalism	$30,216	$57,603	+2%	#75 of 187	#104	$22,250
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$26,425	$57,508	-2%	#125 of 215	#190	$20,000
Communication and Media Studies	$34,892	$56,520	+0%	#256 of 660	#374	$19,848
International/Globalization Studies	—	$55,967	-7%	#47 of 87	#62	—
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services	$28,224	$55,946	+0%	#35 of 70	#60	$15,554
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$38,422	$55,282	+-0%	#316 of 660	#482	$18,500
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences	$39,099	$54,921	-10%	#95 of 156	#127	$19,975
Biology	$34,647	$53,470	-7%	#584 of 841	#722	$22,598
History	$35,403	$52,423	+3%	#200 of 459	#283	$22,906
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management	$35,308	$52,363	+4%	#19 of 55	#34	$23,875
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$33,952	$52,016	-5%	#342 of 610	#481	$19,500
Mathematics	$44,668	$51,939	-25%	#294 of 309	#303	$11,864
Anthropology	$35,432	$51,715	+11%	#55 of 188	#77	$25,000
Special Education and Teaching	$44,009	$51,008	+1%	#94 of 177	#145	$25,000
Psychology	$32,351	$49,455	-2%	#564 of 1027	#781	$19,500
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$48,643	-13%	#169 of 207	#190	—
Sociology	$36,077	$48,154	-9%	#335 of 462	#401	$23,570
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$40,113	$47,303	-8%	#269 of 345	#334	$22,747
Fine and Studio Arts	$30,663	$46,502	+12%	#92 of 423	#161	$23,123
English Language and Literature	$30,689	$46,455	-4%	#364 of 576	#449	$21,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$24,761	$46,089	+16%	#35 of 255	#80	$24,000
Nutrition Sciences	$39,258	$45,979	-23%	#52 of 53	#52	$19,875
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$40,614	$45,008	-5%	#492 of 680	#636	$22,250
Sustainability Studies	$42,076	—	—	—	—	—
Music	$26,944	$37,749	-12%	#217 of 268	#230	$23,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

🏆 Where University of Northern Colorado Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#24

Human Services, General

of 100 schools

#28

Dietetics/Dietitian

of 38 schools

#29

Counseling Psychology

of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$8,784	$23,196
Room	$7,285
Board	$7,190
Total Cost (On-Campus)	$31,678	$45,872

Financial Aid

96%

Receive Any Aid

30%

Receive Pell Grants

50%

Take Out Loans

$19,115

Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income	Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000	$14,505
$30,001 - $48,000	$15,864
$48,001 - $75,000	$16,792
$75,001 - $110,000	$19,842
$110,001+	$22,647

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Business Administration and Management, General 262 grads/yr Psychology, General 176 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 163 grads/yr Special Education and Teaching, General 158 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 129 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 101 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 100 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 88 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 72 grads/yr Music, General 65 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 61 grads/yr Counseling Psychology 56 grads/yr History, General 53 grads/yr Speech Communication and Rhetoric 49 grads/yr Education, General 49 grads/yr Human Services, General 48 grads/yr Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 42 grads/yr Fine/Studio Arts, General 39 grads/yr Dietetics/Dietitian 38 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 33 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from University of Northern Colorado's top programs commonly pursue.

Chief executives

$206k/yr 309,400 jobs

Compensation and benefits managers

$140k/yr 20,900 jobs

Human resources managers

$140k/yr 221,900 jobs

Sales managers

$138k/yr 619,500 jobs

Managers, all other

$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs

Training and development managers

$127k/yr 46,400 jobs

Industrial production managers

$121k/yr 241,900 jobs

Administrative services managers

$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

9,067

Total Students

69%

Women

77%

Traditional Age (18-24)

Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 62%

Hispanic 24%

Black 4%

Asian 3%

Two or More 4%

Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 82%

Off-Campus (Renters) 3%

With Family 16%

🏘️ Rental Demand: ~236 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 49%

Hybrid (Some Online) 35%

Fully Online 16%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 77%

25-64 (Adult) 11%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Northern Colorado?

University of Northern Colorado has an acceptance rate of 86%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.

How much does it cost to attend University of Northern Colorado?

Tuition at University of Northern Colorado is $8,784 for in-state students and $23,196 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $19,115.

What is the graduation rate at University of Northern Colorado?

The graduation rate at University of Northern Colorado is 51%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.

Is University of Northern Colorado a good school?

University of Northern Colorado has a Repit College Score of 58/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:

Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition

How many students attend University of Northern Colorado?

University of Northern Colorado has a total enrollment of 9,067 students. Most students (77%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Is there rental demand near University of Northern Colorado?

Yes! Approximately 3% of students at University of Northern Colorado live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 236 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Northern Colorado — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →